An introduction to UCAS and Higher Education choices

1. An introduction to UCAS and Higher Education choices Welcome

2. Available options • Explore the possibilities… Employment Further education Gap year activities University (higher education) • Subjects - performance and enjoyment • Match subjects to courses • Some vocations require specific choices

3. University and course choices • Location and type (campus/city) • Full-time or sandwich courses • Interests - other opportunities available

4. What else should I think about? • Course details - modules • Entrance requirements (UCAS tariff) • University/college open days • Location • Accommodation • Graduate destinations & employment • Tuition Fees (A range between £6000 and £9000) • Financial incentives (Grants/bursaries)

5. The provision of higher education in the UK • Number of institutions • Number of courses • Applicants • Acceptances • Statistics from UCAS, 2014 370 37,000+ 677,373 495,596

6. How do I apply/gather information? • UCAS website (www.ucas.com) • University & college prospectus’, websites and admissions tutors • Careers library • Careers interviews • Guidance & advice – SFMT, Tutors, family & friends • Centigrade • Sixth Form website (www.netherhallsf.org)

7. Centigrade • Self assessment form completed in Autumn & reviewed in Spring Yr12 • 150 questions on interests, personal qualities, skills & broad abilities • Academic information also includes other qualifications, key skills, etc. • Suggests suitable areas of interest, courses and locations for students

8. UCAS – the process at Netherhall • UCAS Online application form – Remember to apply as part of a school/college (Netherhall) • Personal statement (checked with tutor) • Preliminary meeting with Mr Clarke • Tutor writes reference based on subject teacher information which is then reviewed by Mr Clarke • Final copy of UCAS form sent to us • Pay the UCAS fee (online) • Meet with Mr Clarke to help students with final checks… submit to UCAS UCAS Application Completion!

9. A* 70 A* 140 A 60 A 120 B 50 B 100 C 40 C 80 D 30 D 60 E 20 E 40 The UCAS tariff AS level A level

10. Example A student taking three GCE A Levels plus one AS qualification. A2 Grade English grade A 120 History grade B 100 Economics grade C 80 300 GCE AS Psychology grade B 50 350

11. UCAS • UCAS opening date for applications is 1st September • Students can make a choice of up to five university courses • Interviews compulsory for Oxbridge & for applications to medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine & teaching. (Deadline of 15th October) • All other courses have a December deadline (Netherhall) • University & College offers made November – April • Students can hold 2 offers for places (F) firm & (I) insurance

12. Gap Years and deferred entry… • Consider your interests • Find out – whole wealth of information on the web and via Tutors • This option allows you to make your higher education choices, but gives you the option of doing something else for a year

13. Useful contacts • Universities & Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) - www.ucas.com • www.opendays.com • School website - www.netherhallsf.org -HE and careers information - Where do I go from here guide - Sample personal statements

14. STUDENT FINANCE 2014/15 AN INTRODUCTION

15. i SESSION CONTENTS • Section 1 – The Student Finance Package • Section 2 – Additional Support • Section 3 – Student Loan Repayment • Section 4 – Application Information • Section 5 – Resources

16. 1 THE STUDENT FINANCE PACKAGE SUPPORT AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS INCLUDES: Tuition Fee Loan The Student Finance Package Maintenance (Living Cost) Support Bursaries & Scholarships Additional Support

17. 1 TUITION FEES & LOANS OVERVIEW • Universities and colleges* can charge new full-time students up to • £9,000 per year (£6,750 part-time) for tuition fees • Eligible students won’t have to pay any tuition fees up front • A Tuition Fee Loan is available to cover the fee charged by the university • or college (Up to £6,000 for designated courses at private HEIs) • The Tuition Fee Loan doesn’t depend on household income • SLC pay any Tuition Fee Loan directly to a university or college • The loan is repayable, but only when the student’s income is • over £21,000 a year

18. 1 MAINTENANCE SUPPORT OVERVIEW • Maintenance support is available to help with living costs a student • will face while in higher education • Two main types of support are available, Maintenance Loan and Maintenance Grant • The Maintenance Loan is repayable and all eligible students are • entitled to receive some funding • The amount of loan available will depend on where a student lives • and studies • Maintenance support is paid directly into the student’s bank account • each term

19. 1 MAINTENANCE LOAN MEANS TESTING *Slightly lower rates of support apply to final year students

20. 1 MAINTENANCE SUPPORT MAINTENANCE GRANT OVERVIEW • The Maintenance Grant doesn’t have to be repaid • How much grant a student can get depends on their household • income (100% means tested) • Household income thresholds for 2014/2015: Household Income: Up to £25,000 Full Grant of £3,387 Household Income: Up to £42,620 Partial Grant

21. 1 SPECIAL SUPPORT GRANT ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA • As with the Maintenance Grant the maximum Special Support Grant a • student could get is £3,387, students could be eligible for a SSG if they: • Are a lone (single) parent • Have a partner who is also a student and one or both of them are responsible for a child/young person under 20 who is in full-time • education below higher education level • Have a disability and qualify for the Disability Premium or Severe • Disability Premium • Are deaf and qualify for Disabled Students’ Allowances

22. 1 SPECIAL SUPPORT GRANT ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA • Have been treated as incapable of work for at least 28 weeks • Have a disability and qualify for income-related Employment and • Support Allowance • Are waiting to go back to a course having taken agreed time out from • that course due to an illness or caring responsibility that has now ended • Are aged 60 or older • Entitled to Personal Independence Payment, Armed Forces • Independence Payment and Disability Living Allowance • Eligible for the housing element of Universal Credit Students receiving the Special Support Grant will not see a reduction in their Maintenance Loan entitlement

23. 1 COMBINED MAINTENANCE SUPPORT LIVING AWAY FROM HOME, OUTSIDE LONDON Students can get a quick estimate of their student finance entitlement using the calculator on gov.uk/studentfinance

24. 1 BURSARIES & SCHOLARSHIPS BURSARIES & SCHOLARSHIPS OVERVIEW • Many universities and colleges offer financial support to their students • through bursaries and scholarships • Bursaries: • Linked to personal circumstances and often, household income • Awards can include fee waivers or cash • Scholarships: • Can be linked to academic results or outstanding ability in an area • such as sport, music or art • Can be subject specific and are limited in numbers Students should check university websites early and ask at open days for information on support available and how to apply

25. 2 ADDITIONAL SUPPORT OVERVIEW • Extra money or support may be available to students if they: • Have children or adults dependent on them • Have a disability, long-term health condition, mental-health condition • or specific learning difficulty • Are studying an NHS or Social Work course • NHS courses include: • Nursing, midwifery, physiotherapy, chiropody, dietetics, radiography, occupational therapy, the later stages of medicine and dentistry For further information and applications students should visit: www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/students

26. 3 STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENTS AN OVERVIEW • Students won’t make repayment contributions until their income is • over £21,000 a year (£1,750 pm) gross • On entering repayment, this threshold will rise annually in line with average earnings increase • Full-time studentswill begin to repay in the April after graduating from/leaving their HE course (from April 2016 at the earliest) • Part-time students enter repayment in the April 4 years after they started their course, or the April after they leave their course, whichever comes first • Repayments will be a basic 9% of income earned over £21,000, • but if income falls to £21,000 or below, repayments will stop

27. 3 STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENTS THE FIGURES Early repayments can be made at any time, but any outstanding loan balance will be written off 30 years after entering repayment

28. 3 STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENTS THE INTEREST Interest added will vary, depending on a students circumstances: • Interest rate is: • Retail Price Index (RPI) +3% • Interest rate is: • Retail Price Index (RPI) +3% • Interest rate is: • RPI plus up to 3% Income: Below £21,000 During study until entering repayment Income: £21,000 to £41,000 Income: Above £41,000 • Interest rate is: • Set at RPI Only The interest rate applied is updated once a year in September, using the rate of RPI from that March which is carried forward

29. 3 PART-TIME LOAN REPAYMENTS INTEREST ON A LOAN WILL VARY • While studying and until whichever • comes first of: • April after graduating or leaving a course • April 4 years after the start of a course Interest Rate Retail Price Index (RPI) +3% Interest added will then be linked to a students income (From April 2016) Retail Price Index (RPI) Only Income: Under £21,000 Retail Price Index (RPI) + Up to 3% Income: £21,000 up to £41,000 Income: Over £41,000 Retail Price Index (RPI) +3% Students who finish or leave a course before April 2016; RPI plus 3% until the April after leaving the course, then RPI only until April 2016

30. 3 STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENTS DEDICATED WEBSITE www.studentloanrepayment.co.uk

31. 4 APPLICATION INFORMATION KEY MESSAGES • Apply online at gov.uk/studentfinance as soon as possible to make • sure student finance is in place for the start of their course • Register on UCAS and we can let students know when it’s time to apply • They do not need a confirmed place at university or college to apply • Make a note of their account log-in details and keep them safe • Agree to share information from their application, this helps apply • for many bursaries and some scholarships

32. 4 APPLICATION INFORMATION COMPLETING AN APPLICATION • Before starting an application, students should have the following to hand: • • Passport - SFE can check identity using valid UK passport details • • University and course details • Bank account details and National Insurance number • If parents or other sponsors will be supporting a students application, they • will need their own account on GOV.UK and provide information including: • • National Insurance number(s) • Household income information • Details of other child dependants If sponsors can’t submit income details online, they should send a photocopy of evidence including: P60s, Pay slips or Tax returns

33. 4 GOV.UK FOR MORE INFORMATION & TO APPLY www.gov.uk/studentfinance

34. 4 NEW LOOK ‘MY ACCOUNT’ MAKING IT EASIER TO NAVIGATE & UNDERSTAND

35. 4 STUDENT FINANCE APPLICATIONS IDENTITY EVIDENCE • SFE require all students to provide identity evidence in order for their • application to progress. The following list details acceptable identification • evidence (ID): • UK Students - Identity Evidence • Students confirm identity by providing valid passport details in their • online application • If they haven't included passport details with online application they will • need to send one of the following: • A completed UK Passport Details Form (If holding valid passport) • Original UK birth or adoption certificate along with a countersigned • Birth/Adoption Certificate Form (ADIF)

36. 4 SUPPORTING AN APPLICATION HOUSEHOLD INCOME • If supporting an application for means tested student finance, SFE will • need to see details of parent(s) partners or other sponsors household • (taxable earned and unearned) income and National Insurance number(s) • Earned income includes: • Wages, salaries, tips, and other taxable employee pay • Long-term disability benefits received prior to minimum retirement age • Net earnings from self-employment • Unearned income includes: • Interest from savings (only the annual summary is required) • Benefits and Pensions • Rent from property or a room For most applications, SLC verify income from these NI numbers with no need to send any documents, unless we ask for them

37. 5 SFE FULL & QUICK-START GUIDES STUDENT GUIDES NOW AVAILABLE FOR 2014/15 • Series of informative guides, introducing the main • areas of student finance to students and their parents, • including: • Financial Support for Students • Disabled Students’ Allowances • How Students are Assessed and Paid • Student Loan Terms and Conditions • Download now from the SFE finance page on • The Student Room

38. 5 THE STUDENT ROOM FOR FURTHER INFORMATION & RESOURCES www.thestudentroom.co.uk/studentfinance

39. 5 SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOW SFE FOR THE LATEST NEWS www.facebook.com/SFEngland www.twitter.com/sf_england

40. 5 UNISTATS COMPARE UNI’S COURSES AND FEES www.unistats.direct.gov.uk